Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-06-29
Wednesday, June ao. 1887.
40, WISE JuDeE,o. LEARNED JUD6Er


90, WISE JUDGEiO. LEARNED JUDGEr
When Chief Justice Mcconnell
came out from Tennessee to take
charge Of the Montana Supreme Court
the Democracy Of Helena resounded
with the praises of the affable. emf.
nent and accomplished jurist and
openly thanked the gods that, II q
''carpet Dagger" had to be appointed,
fate had been so extremely kind rs to
send them such q genial gentleman
and learned Judge; but Cor q week
past laudatory Communications have
given place to mutterings Of discoptent
among the brethren and now outspo-
ken dissatisfaction is expressed over
the action Of the new Judge In the die.
trict clerk appointment and now o
few of the prominent psrtisans of his
own stripe politically denounce that
official as q religious fanatic and q
Temperance crank" and proclaim his
act In appointing the clerk Of the dis.
trict court, q contemptuous disregard
of their wishes and prayers. without
warrant or excuse.
IL is well known that n of he
brightest and most respected young
men In the Democratic ranks was an
applicant for the position Of clerk OF
this distric. court, and a. soon "a the
new Judge arrived testimonials and
petitions poured In, attesting the good
character Of the applicant and asking
his appointment. The bar Of Helena
almost to q unit endorsed the young
man; the var horses Of the Democracy
urgei bis appointment by letter and
personal interview with the Chief Jus
tice; monied men among them offered
to 20 on his bond for twice the
amount required. In fact no testimo-
nial or encouragement was lacking and
everyone thought, that with such uni.
versal support. his appointment was a
foregone conclusion.
II WA given out that he would be
appointed and In q recent converse
tion the Judge told the young man
that his appointment was as good o.
settled. In fact he even stated the
c~ondiuons. telling the applicant that
he, the Judge. would serve the right
IN name the deputy clerks and pro
cesding to designate whom he desired
appointed ut Benton, Boulder and
Helena. So the interview terminated.
Two days later. last Monday, the
young man was summoned to the
presence Of the Chief Justice. 1t was
evident that some influence antagon.
istic 10 the applicant had been brought
TO bear on the Judge since the last In.
terview. He began by asking the
young man II he gambled or drank.
The latter protested that be did not,
when the Judge is said to have re.
marked:
IT have been told that at q game Of
pokeISwede Sam bet $25, you raised
him SIS and when II came to a show
down you had only q pair Of deuces.'
The young man denounced the
statement as false and unhesitatingly
branded the man that had uttered II a
liar. The conversation continued In
this pleasant strain, and the Judge
learned from the applicants lips that
in past times he had tasted liquor and
INDUCED occasionally In a social game
oIAkef, but that Be had abandoned
both. whereupon the Judge Is re
ported 10 have said:
1T dent consider you q At man f6l
the place. The clerk is responsible
for large sums. running as high a.
s35, 900, and ~ you are untrustworthy
I would not consider IL safe In your
hands. No man who plays poker can
hold q position under me. I want q
Young man pure and spotless In that
position, and I am sorry to say I can
mot find such In Helena. The morals
OF. this city are far below my standard
nv son will be here next spring, and
10 him I could safely oonnde th'
trust"
The Judge, we are told. gave hi'
visitor the benefit Of some OF his relie
ious views. He held that cards u
themselves were evil, because they lie
TO evil, and could not countenance an.
one who used them. Other religion
profundities were expounded for th
ediication of the visitor, bot. notwitf
standing, the interview ended wit
anything but . religious aspect an
the applicant left with his temper n'
wise improved by the conference.
Since then the appointment be
hung Ore. A few days since u va
Understood that the Judge was abou
to appoint lawyer Of well know
temperance proclivitiss 10 the positioE